Kayak Fisherman Unite on Delta

Skunk for zero Stripers, but managed to hook on some bluegills, red ears and one smallie.  Didn't get in water early to hit the top water action and not even one fish who wanted my offering of dines.
And I think I was the last one in.
 

 

Thanks Eric! 

At least you were fish'n,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,way to get out there.

Dale L

Total skunk for me...not even a nibble.  Tiki Lagun has a nice set up for a gathering and it was a great day to be on the water.  Thank goodness for nav systems because I couldn't drive, made all the correct turns in the dark and deal with the winding levee roads without one.

Good to meet up with some of the NCKA folks for the first time...yakhopper, jeffrm20, iroelikethat, alfredo, shifty1, Carl and an old friend Randy, one of my Tarpon bros.  Wilderness Systems would have been proud to see the flotilla of Tarpons that gathered for this event.  

I got out with the first wave in the fog and trolled to Mildred Island.  Not good to hear PBs open up their throttles in the fog and then hope they don't run into you.  After poking around with everything in my tackle box I trolled back and called it a day.  

Lots of bankies, PBs and birds...just couldn't locate the bass, striped, large mouth or small mouth.

Eric thanks for organizing this, sorry I couldn't stick around for the festivities afterwards.

Gary

I agree it was a very nice day out there, but the fish were hard to find.  Jeff and I went a long way to get the ones we caught.  We went north up Turner Cut, through the San Joaquin main channel, down Columbia Cut and Latham Slough (along Mildred Island's east side), and finally, the home stretch, back east on Empire Cut.  Basically the whole way around McDonald Island.  I caught mine near the pumps in Columbia Cut on a shallow diving Yozuri.  All in all, about 10 miles or more...half with the Hobie peddles and half with the paddle after the peddles broke----AGAIN!!!!  My arms are not used to that kind of workout.

It was really great to see everyone out there today.  Thanks Eric, for putting on such a great event.  When we do it next year, maybe the fish will be there too.

Have a good week,

Bryan

This was my first NCKA gathering, great time!

Not a great day for bites, nevertheless it was a good one.

RR

So I just got home and got my fish filleted and marinating. I had a great time today, got some great exercize and had some good laughs with Bryan. We worked hard for our fish. I stuck around after to wait for the evening bite to pick up but I was exhausted. I fished from 4-5pm and called it quits. cigarette boats still doing 80mph past me and the tide was slack and wasnt turning so I just headed in. I am in the process of uploading pics, having some trouble with my digital camera, but I promise they will be up soon, I got a ton of pics!

Jeff

After what I saw around Sherman Is and Rio Vista yesterday combined with the early reports here it's like the striper bite has just turned off.   

Great day to be on the water. The weather was beautiful and the company was fun. Good to meet many of you.
Congrats to Bryan and Jeff on their winning fish. Many thanks to Eric and the sponsors (Fisherman's Warehouse I believe) for putting this together, prizes and a nice lunch. It was good to have an organized event in the delta.

I didn't catch a striper, but I did catch a little LMB. Had a good sized sea lion cruise by me twice while fishing Whiskey Slough. That was an interesting surprise.  

That's about it for my report. Here's some misc pics for your viewing enjoyment.

Al

Just got back to Fresno (10:00pm)
Just wanted to thank all of you who showed today, it was nice to put names to more NCKA faces.
Congratulation to Bryan, Jeff, and Kevin for taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Brian and Jeff really put the miles in for their fish. Sorry to hear about the pedals again Bryan , Maybe it's a good time to look at a Ocean Kayak
The final tally was:
42 RSVP's to show
37 actual participants
3 legal Striper's?
At least we had good company and the weather was beautiful

Bryan, Jeff, and Kevin! Awesome.  You three definitely put your time on the water and deserve it.  Sorry I couldn't make it.

Thanks Eric for putting together a chance to meet some fellow kayak fisherman and have a nice lunch.  It was a good time, but the fish must have heard about our plans and bailed out on us.  Really tough bite out there, trolling plugging or otherwise.  I trolled to Mildred and took Latham slough all the way to the top of the island and back.  Got one dink largemouth on a spook, one barely legel striper (released, too close for comfort) and two more dink largemouth in the last hour.  No signs of schools or surface activity.  Weather was great though once the fog burned off, I'll upload some pics later.  Congrats to Bryan and Jeff who actually had something to submit! 

Congrats Bryan! Jeff! and X! and to all those who signed&showed! looks like good WXs, read like sloo0oo action.
Fresno F.W. is doing it right! good job and thanks for posting the pics and details fellas!

Congrats Bryan,Jeff, and Kevin for winning. Now I know who to tag along with
next year. J/K

Jedmo

Congrats to the winners - you folks showed us rookies (me and gatorjit) how its done.  I paddled out of turner cut into the SJ channel...past lost isle then turned it around since I was sure I was soon to get lost.  Explored a decent amount of territory but didn't catch or hook any stripers trolling.  I had a few issues with snagging weeds/grass - reading some other boards this was not an uncommon occurence on that day.

I nosed into some tules around turner cut to see if i could catch a bluegill for bait.  surprisingly I hooked about a 3/4lb redear sunfish who proceeded to spike me with his fins, drop off the hook into my lap then returned himself to the drink. 

Overall it was a slow fishing day but a great place to paddle and enjoy the scenery.  there was a lot of boat traffic, but I felt that I handled it well for the first time being in a yak in the delta. 

Thanks to yakhopper for putting on the event and for letting me borrow his trident 13!

I wish I could have been there!! Looks like a bunch of great folks having an awesome time. Congrats to the winners as well. I am not surprised Jeff pulled one out of those waters even considering the tough fishing conditions (Home Water Advantage...LOL).

I took my son out fishing in Pittsburg for a few hours on Saturday and Sunday morning trying to have him hook into a keeper striper. I even went as far as lending him my favorite lure. We were skunked. No bites other than a pike, SMB, and small shaker striper on Sunday. I believe the sea lions were chasing the fish out of the area! That is my fishing story and I am sticking to it.